Portrait of a dancer
Stage 1
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
been working at my taxes all day on my older Mac,
and that activity as enjoyable as it was (with my old
Itunes selections blasting from what I have to admit
were really great speakers), makes things clear. Painting
is fun. Run on sentence? Give me a break I've been marking
papers.
Painting from life -- super fun. The client for this
commission is a beautiful, intelligent and very funny
woman. I felt so excited all weekend as I worked painting
her. We had three short sessions, and they were a
complete treat.
Today I'm going to show you the painting on the easel
at stage one. She is coming along. At first, and some
times for quite a while the painting looks almost
cartoonish. But I love that early stage when the whole
of life with the painting is about possibility. The first
few stages at least are about underpainting, and feeling
my way around the canvas to see the best possible
position and lighting for the face and body. Painting
a dancer, even in repose, is like painting pure energy.
It's rare to meet someone so fit and muscled in a lean
elegant way. Looking at this woman I could almost
believe she could fly. And as she danced with the
National Ballet of Canada, she no doubt has.
Have a dancing-your-way-through-all-of-it day.
6 comments:
Barbara, I’m in awe, I’m totally amazed at your energy and productivity and ability to sustain this remarkably high level of beautiful painting and drawing!
As you seem to ratchet up the ante in your neck of the woods I ratchet it down in mine. But I did last week purchase a new pair of Momentum light hiking shoes for our trip to Spain. That is honestly what they’re called. You got momentum, I gotta have it too.
Anyway congratulations on a fabulous body of work – you’ll be a knock out in NY!!! And if you stay at the renovated Chelsea I believe the lobby is exactly the same as when I lived there with Larry Rivers Dutch Masters hanging on the wall and an installation by George Segal
xoxoxoxoxoxo Marcia
This is going to be another great one! I am looking forward to see your final painting.
She and your painting are beauties, Barbara!
You've got it goin' on, artist! I agree that painting is love and "super fun."
Take any break you wish, you deserve time and space to paint, to dream, to be your true self.
Rest this week when you can. Then, fly to NY and own the place!
Curious how this lovely painting will turn out. I love the first marks of a painting, too. Very different from the finish, but alway intriguing and good.
hi Barbara,
I'm very impressed with the water series, they look awesome! Have a great time in New York. It will be fun to watch this ballerina develop...great to see the beginnings, i agree with you i love the possibilites at the early stages.
What a great start! I hadn't thought cartoonish but maybe now that you mention it. Whatever it is your work is beautiful and I love watching the progress.
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